EconTalk Azra Raza on The First Cell
Mar 23, 2020
Azra Raza, an oncologist and author of "The First Cell," shares her insights on the stagnant progress in cancer treatment over the past five decades. She critiques traditional methods, advocating for a more holistic approach to cancer that considers individual complexities. Raza discusses the emotional aspects of patient care, highlighting the importance of listening and the often-unspoken challenges oncologists face. She also emphasizes the need for innovative research and compassionate engagement to truly understand and treat this multifaceted disease.
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Current Cancer Treatment Methods
- Current cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) is like "taking a baseball bat and hitting a dog with it to get rid of its fleas."
- Chemotherapy kills all rapidly dividing cells, making it a blunt instrument against cancer.
Cancer Treatment Efficacy
- While 68% of cancers are cured today, this is largely due to early detection, not better treatments.
- For the remaining 30%, outcomes haven't improved in 50 years, despite billions invested in research.
A Case of AML
- Azra Raza describes a 42-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukemia who will soon suffer the harsh effects of chemotherapy.
- Raza highlights the stagnation in treatment, using the same two drugs with the same poor results as decades ago.
